Representative Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Alabama, criticized Republican efforts to investigate ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising organization, during a statement on Wednesday. Sewell described the investigation as part of a pattern of harassment against Black women in positions of power, citing previous actions by the Department of Justice under Donald Trump. She stated, "Over and over again, Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has harassed Black women with bogus lawsuits."
The investigation focuses on whether ActBlue and its CEO, Regina Wallace-Jones, accepted illegal donations and misled lawmakers regarding its screening processes for foreign contributions. House Republicans are demanding that ActBlue provide international communications as part of their inquiry.
Wallace-Jones has defended the organization, asserting that it employs rigorous measures to ensure compliance with donation regulations, including requiring Card Verification Values (CVVs) for credit card donations and using digital tools to identify foreign contributions.
Sewell expressed concern that the investigation is politically motivated, linking it to broader patterns of targeting Black women who oppose Trump. She referenced other individuals who have faced scrutiny, including Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook and New York Attorney General Tish James, as examples of this trend.